Merkel sees no reason to resign; focussed on building stable government

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel meets with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier after coalition government talks collapsed in Berlin, Germany, November 20, 2017. REUTERS/Guido Bergmann/BPA/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY.

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday said she saw no reason to resign after the collapse of talks about a three-way coalition government, adding her conservative bloc would enter any new elections more unified than before.

Merkel told German broadcaster ZDF she was ready to serve four more years as chancellor, and felt it was important to send a signal of stability for the country and Europe and the world.

Asked about the possibility of another “grand coalition” with the Social Democrats, Merkel said she would wait to see the party’s response after their talks with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday. But she said any demand for her to step down would not be a good way to start a new coalition.

She said she was disappointed by the decision of the pro-business Free Democrats to pull out of the coalition talks, but did not expect the party to reverse course.